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Minutes from 2 Jan 2013

We had a great meeting this month! In just under an hour, we got a lot of updates from different groups about several important Avenue issues.

Topics Covered:

Patrol Watch Update

Parks Committee: Kellogg Park & the Kaiser Grant

Updates on the Westside Plan

Presentation and Q&A with Code Enforcement

Initial Business (10 minutes:
6:50-7:00 p.m.)(Art Troll)

Introductions

Approval of Minutes General
Meeting November 7th, 2012 (NOTE: The WCC held its annual potluck
in lieu of its regular monthly meeting in December. No December
2012 minutes.) (5 minutes) (Approval moved by Lori Steinhauer,
2nd by Peter Miller)

Treasurer
Report (Catherine Stanley)

$2500.87 (NOTE:
SPECIAL THANKS to PETE and PEGGIE MARRIOTT for their generous
donation of HOW MUCH, covering 6 months of rent at Bell Arts
Factory.)

Updates (20 minutes: 7:00-7:20
p.m.)

Patrol Watch, Ventura Police
Department (VPD) (Commander Tim Turner)

Last 30 days on Avenue –

Residential burglaries
including charter school on De Anza Way. Mostly entries through
open windows; also houses being fumigated for termites are being
burglarized around the city.

Eight stolen vehicles: Anyone
who notices unfamiliar vehicles that appear not to belong in a
neighborhood can/should provide license plates or VINs to VPD.

Catalytic converter thefts
continue – especially on Toyota pickups.

Bike theft is up.

River Bottom clearing. Checks
are being made weekly. VPD is checking south of Shell Road.
People still going in and sleeping there, but area remains clear
of encampments/shelters.

Jeff Lambert, Community
Development Director, City of Ventura, reported that City and
Trust for Public Lands (TPL) are continuing negotiations for
Kellogg Park land. January 14 to council to formalize city
contract with TPL and authorize TPL to complete the offer. Good
for city to hear from a few Westside residents to report.

Letty Alvarez, Ventura County
Public Health, reported that nominations on table for chair for A
Lean West Ventura Coalition. Everyone is encouraged to attend
meeting Jan. 16. Photo Voice of things residents thought would be
needed to improve the Avenue will be some improvements. Some have
already been made. Letty anticipates update on Kaiser-Permanent
grant by next meeting. For information contact
letty.alvarez@ventura.org

Hill Slide Committee (Theresa
Satterfield)

Committee is
coordinating with Selby Property on efforts to address hill slide
issues.

Westside Plan Committee (Lori
Steinhauer and Suz Montgomery)

Suz Montgomery
reported that discussions are in works for WCC to lead community
meeting on plan to determine what Westside needs have been addressed
and where concerns remain and how plan aligns with what Westside
wants. Will incorporate all aspects of community – residents,
business community, Latino outreach, etc. Letty Alvarez suggested
support availability from VC Public Health and possibly in
coordination with school district and possible site of EP Foster
School. Lori Steinhauer noted that the Westside Community
Council’s Westside Plan Position Paper addressing concerns and
likes is available in 11/07/12 minutes packet and soon to be online.

Jeff Lambert,
City of Ventura Director of Community Development, stated that
the city isslowing down the process to ensure the plan
reflects what the community wants. April or May is the time frame for
the plan going to the City Planning Commission.

Jamie Arnold reported that Code
Enforcement is here to support needs of community re. code
enforcement. Brochures available for more information. 01/14/13
will be city code report to council – anticipated to be
available online by 01/10/13.

Expand into all committees with
makeup that represents the Westside – i.e. more Latino
community, etc.

Time management.

Coordinate and Emphasize
Neighborhood Compatibility through Code Enforcement and Other
Means –such as address issues and find solutions to saturations
of halfway houses on Avenue – disproportionate amount.

Minutes to indicate joint
meeting of WCC and its Board. Board to meet monthly at least
first couple of months/maybe entire first quarter, then quarterly
board meeting and/or phone tree board meeting with minutes and
email responses.

General WCC is dark in July and
has potluck in lieu of meeting in December, otherwise meets
monthly.

Stephen De Baun, Outreach &
Communications Chair, announced new website up next month with
agendas and minutes and opportunity for public to give input for
agenda; today linked to survey for meeting time and will do straw
poll for meeting time and day. Wednesdays wanted. 6:30p is
earliest crowd can do.